As we continue to hear positive reports about the state of the economy and a declining unemployment rate, it may be easy to feel confused — if the unemployment rate is so low, how am I still having such a hard time finding a job? In part, it might because commentators aren't looking at the full story. When you account not only for folks who've been about of work for 15-plus weeks, but also consider those who are underemployed, "marginally attached," or "discouraged," the effective unemployment rate has been sitting around 10 percent for the last year now at least, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So how are you supposed to find work among such stiff competition of other job seekers?

Job searching takes a lot out of a person. Updating your resume, searching high and low for job availabilities, anxiously wait for a call back (if you even get one, that is), then rinsing and repeating -- it's time-consuming and stressful, even if you ultimately get your desired result. The process is exhausting and completely not fun, but that doesn't mean you can't be good at it. Here's how to master your job search and build the career of your dreams.

Finally, the new year is here, which means it's time to pull out all of the inspirational hoopla to get those career go-getter juices flowing again. (But this year it will be different! Right? Right?!) We've compiled a list of ways to help kick-start the momentum you need to make 2015 a career success.